Southern Inland Health Initiative

Half a billion dollar investment in WA health

Health care in the southern inland region of WA is being transformed through the State Government’s half a billion dollar Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI), made possible by the Royalties for Regions program.

Under the Southern Inland Health Initiative, communities in the southern inland catchment will benefit from:

$149 million to significantly improve medical resources and 24 hour emergency response across the districts

$300 million plus capital program including new builds and upgrades to 37 health services across the Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West and Midwest. To find out more about the SIHI building program visit the Bigger Picture Health (external site)

$26 million to boost primary health care across the catchment

$40 million to implement the Primary Health Care Demonstration Program

$36 million investment in telehealth technology, including equipment upgrades

$20 million towards residential aged care and dementia investment.

Below is a breakdown of what each region is receiving as a result of SIHI:

More information

Southern Inland Health Initiative

A program evaluation of SIHI is underway, examining the impact of the various initiatives and programs against the strategic outcomes from baseline year 2010/11 through to 2014/15. The preliminary key findings contained in the report indicate the following SIHI benefits:

Significant improvements in emergency medical care in southern regional WA, with more doctors being supported to live and work in the country, and through the use of modern technology.

SIHI is creating safer, better and more reliable emergency care to ensure rural and remote communities receive equitable access to high quality health care when compared with their urban communities.

Significant increases in the range of local health services that bring care closer to home and are having a positive effect on helping people avoid hospital.

Investing in upgrades of hospital and health service facilities will provide better care to the community in enhanced, modernised buildings.

Economic benefits for country residents and Western Australia from better local hospital and health services.